Interactive Learning Experiences, Grades 6-12 : Increasing Student Engagement and Learning

by David Smokler

• ISBN13: 9781412963350
• ISBN10: 1412963354
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-09-05
• Publisher: Corwin Pr

Summary

'This book will excite teachers who want to motivate today's secondary students. Information about the brain, presented along with the authorÆs personal teaching experiences, tips, and creative game ideas, makes for a very worthwhile read!'ùCindy Bean, Seventh-Grade Math TeacherArcola Intermediate Middle School, Schwenksville, PAEnergize adolescents with memorable and engaging learning experiences!Research shows that the adolescent brain is wired to seek novelty and ignore familiar stimuli. This innovative resource demonstrates how teachers can transform everyday classroom lectures into memorable experiences and reinforce course content by introducing new, different, and surprising elements into daily lessons.Based on brain-compatible teaching principles, the updated edition of Making Learning Come Alive shows how to use stimulating interactive learning experiences to connect teenagers with content. Teachers will find activities and ideas for introducing each learning experience and will discover how to design and assess their own. Updated throughout, this new edition offers:Nine new sample learning experiences, including four in math and science A revised assessment chapter that covers standards-based education and NCLB Reflection questions in each chapterThe learning activities can be used as is or modified to connect with hundreds of themes and concepts across middle school and high school curricula.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. vii
Acknowledgments	p. ix
About the Author	p. xi
Why Create an Experience?	p. 1
What Is an Experience?	p. 2
So Who Has Time for Experiences in the Classroom?	p. 4
Brain-Compatible Learning	p. 7
The Power of Reflection	p. 20
Reflection Questions for Teachers	p. 21
How to Create an Experience	p. 22
Preparing a Classroom Environment Conducive to Experiences	p. 22
Strategies for Creating Experiences	p. 29
Putting It All Together-Creating Your Own Experiences	p. 39
Other Ideas for Experiences	p. 42
Reflection Questions for Teachers	p. 45
How Do You Assess an Experience?	p. 46
Traditional Versus Authentic Assessment	p. 46
Reflection as Formative Assessment	p. 48
Aligning Your Experiences to Standards	p. 49
Why Standards-Based?	p. 51
Reflection as Summative Assessment	p. 52
Other Considerations	p. 54
Reflection Questions for Teachers	p. 57
Sample Experiences	p. 58
Rapport-Building Activity: Guess Who Had This for Dinner	p. 59
Rapport-Building Activity: Eliminator	p. 61
Rapport-Building Activity: Morning Move-Around	p. 62
Rapport-Building Activity: The Wave	p. 64
Rapport-Building Activity: Two Truths and a Lie	p. 65
Rapport-Building Activity: The Name Game	p. 66
Rapport-Building Activity: Thumper	p. 67
Rapport-Building Activity: Old-Fashioned Sing-Down	p. 69
Experience: Musical Moment	p. 71
Experience: The Reveal	p. 72
Experience: Debate Shift-Around	p. 74
Narrative: Save the Princess	p. 76
Narrative: Counter-Terrorism	p. 78
Experience: The Arrest	p. 80
Experience: Shelter	p. 83
Experience: The Scream	p. 87
Experience: The Fire	p. 92
Simulation Game: Power	p. 98
Simulation Game: Island Survival	p. 105
Simulation Game: The Salesperson	p. 109
Simulation Game: Witch Hunt	p. 112
Simulation Game: The Farm	p. 116
Narrative: Crime Lab	p. 119
Narrative: Roller Coaster Designer	p. 121
Making Experiences Work for You	p. 123
Reproducible Handouts	p. 128
Song Reflection Report	p. 129
Save the Princess	p. 130
Counter-Terrorism	p. 131
The Scream	p. 132
Power	p. 133
Island Survival	p. 134
The Salesperson	p. 135
The Farm Game	p. 138
Crime Scene Lab Report	p. 144
Additional Resources	p. 145
Brain-Based Learning Fun Kit	p. 145
Web Sites About Brain-Based Learning	p. 146
Web Sites About Simulation Games	p. 146
References	p. 147
Index	p. 150
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.